Ian Hislop on the attack on Charlie Hebdo

"I am appalled and shocked by this horrific attack - a murderous attack on free speech in the heart of Europe."

Radio Times review

Where were the court jesters when we needed them? Through the heavy developments of the past few months, we could have done with a few satirical sideswipes from the Have I Got News for You panel to lighten the load. There's nothing like a barb from Ian Hislop or a childish quip from Paul Merton to put recent events in perspective.

Now at least, they're back for a new run, and in the hot seat once again is the unflappable Jennifer Saunders as guest host. Even better, the great Armando Iannucci joins one of the teams, not least to offer a Scottish point of view, while excellent actress and stand-up Sara Pascoe makes her debut.

Ian Hislop and Nick Newman interview

The long-term writing partners talk about a disastrous experience with a confused Hollywood megastar led to their first play together since their teens.

Highlights include a mickey take of The Office and a brilliantly-observed version of The Killing that mixes the dark thriller with children's television character Pingu.

Harry and Paul don't shy away from the controversial parts of the BBC's history, with a version of Call My Bluff in which the chosen word is paedophile. And after a picture of a BBC chief called Bert John is flashed up that bears more than a passing resemblance to ex-director general John Birt, fictional head of drama Jonathan Oxford-Cambridge (played by Whitehouse) refers to Bert John as, "a total c..." before he is cut off.

Enfield plays main narrator, the historian Simon Schama, plus Michael Gambon, Stephen Fry and Ian Hislop, while Whitehouse's characters include Paul Merton, Mary Berry and BBC creative director Alan Yentob - who he plays as a mixture of Gollum and Yoda.

Yentob showed he could take the joke though. Most of the show was filmed around the old BBC Television Centre in west London which is being redeveloped. Originally Harry and Paul were denied access but Yentob sorted it out for them. Harry said at a screening of the show: "Yentob made it happen. I think he might live to regret it don't you?"

Ian Hislop: There aren't enough happy women on shows

Ian Hislop has said that a large part of the problem with getting more women on panel shows is that they simply don't want to take part because of the format.

Radio Times review

As the big beast of the panel-show genre rouses itself for a 47th series, we know what to expect. Nobody would pretend the show's satirical edge is as sharp as it once was or that the scripted gags supplied to the host aren't sometimes embarrassingly poor (you can often see team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton wince in sympathy). But it's still the best place to see the week's news given a going-over and it's good to have it back.

Jennifer Saunders takes the presenter's hot seat for the first time and Richard Osman, who generally raises everyone's game a peg or two, is a guest.

John Lloyd: TV is lacking satire

Comedy producer John Lloyd has said he does not believe any of the television programmes broadcast in the UK today are truly satirical. But Ian Hislop, the editor of Private Eye, said Lloyd is being "unduly pessimistic".

Ian Hislop: William Shatner was my favourite guest host

Ian Hislop, talking about William Shatner says: "He had no idea who we were or what was happening in Britain, and he was brilliant: very sharp and very self-aware".

Ian Hislop, Michael Palin and the 'Wipers Times'

Ahead of a TV comedy series about the satirical Wipers Times, we pay tribute to the bravery of its irreverent editors.

Michael Palin to star in new TV drama by Ian Hislop

Monty Python actor to star in BBC Two show charting how first world war soldiers published a newspaper from Ypres battlefield.